90 
vety black in color, evidently having molted during confinement. 
The others, placed in the box at the same time, remained green 
thruout the larval period. In about ten days to two weeks the larvae 
reach maturity and go into the ground, where they spin a thin 
Fig. 4. Southern Fern-Cutworm, Callopistria 
floridensis , pupa, seen fnom beneath. Length oue 
halt to four fifths inch. 
cocoon and pupate in two or three days. Larvae which were kept 
in boxes without earth, spun cocoons with leaves in the corners 
of the box. The moths emerge about 12 to 14 days after pupa¬ 
tion. They are night fliers, and during the day remain hidden, 
usually under the greenhouse benches. 
In Illinois this cutworm has been found only in greenhouses, 
where it continues to breed thruout the year, being most destruc¬ 
tive, however, during the summer months. In fact, from Decem¬ 
ber to February inclusive, when the houses are much cooler than 
at other times of the year, it does little or no damage. The num¬ 
ber of annual generations is not definitely known, but there are 
doubtless several. 
Descriptive .—The moth* is a beautiful insect, with a variegated 
wing-pattern, which is well shown in the accompanying illustra¬ 
tion (Fig. 5). The general color of the body and wings is brown. 
Fig. 5. Southern Fern-Cutworm, Callo¬ 
pistria jloridensis , adult. Nearly twice 
natural size. 
Fig. 6. Southern Fern-Cutworm. Callopistria floridensis , 
antenna? of adults: a, female; b, male. 
There is a dark reddish-brown triangular patch on the margin of 
the fore wing, and at its center and along the outer margin are 
diagonal lines of a delicate pinkish white. The hind wings are 
^Colored figure of male is given in W. J. Holland’s “The Moth Book,” 
Plate XXIX, Fig. 61. 
